Window structure



J. M. AMMERMAN July 5, 1960 WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed May 17. 1957 INVENTOR. ./bH/v/Vl. Hmm/mmv, m

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed May 17, 1957, ser. No. 659,905

claims. (c1. 16197) The movable sash of double-hung windows are frequently balanced by balancing devices including two telescoping elements the inner one of which is a twisted metal strip operating, as it moves into and out of the outer element, `to rotate a member against -which a torsion spring act-s. The pitch of the twisted element is such that the spring, acting through the rotatable member, exerts on the twisted element an appreciable effort counterbalancing the weight of the sash to which the twisted element is secured. To make possible adjustment of the sash-balancing efort, the twisted element is releasably secured to the sash so that, upon release, it can be rotated to vary the effort exerted by the spring.

It is an object of this invention tol provide an improved means for releasably connecting the twisted element of a sash-balancing device to the sash, which means will provide a finer adjustment of Vsash-balancing effort than has been possible with prior devices of which I am aware. Another object of my invention is to incorporate in the connecting means a bumper which will prevent Contactv between any other portion of the connecting means and the window frame in -which the sash is slidable.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred form, I secure to the sash a bracket having a vertically extending, substantially square socket through which the twisted member of the balancing device is adapted to extend. To the twisted element, and on the opposite side of the bracket from the barrel of the balancing device I s ecurey a bumper which projects outwardly beyond the margins of the bracket-socket, such bumper preferably being made of some non-metallic material, such as a molded plastic. The bumper has a pair of ears which lie on opposite sides of the twisted element and are so dimensioned as to permit their reception in the bracket-socket. By drawing the twisted element longitudinally of itself until such ears clear the bracket-socket, the twisted element can be rotated to vary the effort exerted by the spring of the balancing device, and the twisted element may then be permitted to return to its original position, the ears on the bumper entering the socket and holding the twisted element against rotation relative to the sash. Because the socket is square, adjustment of the twisted element about its axis may be effected in 90 increments.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental elevation showing the outside of a double-hung window;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. -2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevational view, in partial section, illustrating a detail of construction; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric View illustrating a further de tail of construction.

The Window illustrated in Fig. 1 embodies a frame having a head 1t), a sill .11, and side jambs 12. Within such frame, an upper sash 13 and a lower sash 14 are tats Fatent 2 vertically slidable. Each side-jamb 12 is desirably formed of a metal member of a general H-shape in cross-section, having a web 15 interconnecting' parallel inner and outer flanges 16 and 17. Two intermediate flanges 18 projecting from the web 15 toward the sash support a removable sash-guide 19 held in placeA on the edges of thel flanges 18 by screws 20 extending into threaded openings in the web 15.

Each of the sliding sash has a side rail 25 provided with a flange 26 received in a longitudinal groove in the sashguide 19. Desirably, weather stripping 27 embraces the outer edge or each portion of each ange 26. In addition to the guidingflanges 26, each sash is shown as also possessing a second flange 28'. The flange 28 of the upper sash 13 is spaced outwardly of the window from thev fiange 26 and extends into overlapping, spaced relation with the outer fiange 17 of the side jamb. The fiange 28` on the lower sash 14 is spaced inwardly from the flange 26 of such sash and extends into overlapping, spaced relation withV the inner ange 16 of the side jamb.

The web 15 of theV side jamb is formed adjacent eachY of the anges 16 and 17 to provide space for the reception of a window balancing device. As shown, .such

balancing device for the upper sash includes'an elongated metal barrel 30 within which there is received a twisted.

33 tending to rotatethe latter 'in a direction which will" impose an upward effort on th'e ystrip 31-32. 'Balancing devices of this type are well knownand needV not be further described.' i f AThe barrel 30 of the balancing device is conveniently connected to the window frame by providing it, near its upper end (Fig. '4) with an opening 36 vwhich receives a tongue 37 punched out from the web 15 'of the' side jamb.

The lower end 32 ofthe twisted strip is connectedto the upper sash 13 by a bracket 40 secured, as byrivets 41, to the side rail 25V near the lower end thereof. ASuch bracket is conveniently formed of sheet metal `and pro-'5 jects from the side rail 25 into the side jamb, Where its end is bent to provide a substantially squaresocket 42;-k

coaxial with the balancing device. The socket 42 receives the end 32 of the twisted metal strip and also two ears 43 projecting upwardly along opposite sides of the strip-end 32 from a bump 44. The strip-end 32 extends downwardly through and beyond the bumper and is secured thereto, conveniently by a rivet 45 which extends through the ears 43 and the strip-end 32. The bumper 44, including the ears 43, is desirably formed of some non-metallic material, such as a molded plastic, and the diameter of its body portion is such that it projects outwardly beyond the edges of the socket 42 so as to prevent contact of such socket with the web 15 or ange 17 of the side jamb.

With the ears 43 received in the socket 42, the strip I 31-,32 will be held against rotation; and the force exerted by the spring 34 on the rotatable member 33 will cause the latter to apply to the strip 31-32 an upward eiort counterbalancing the weight of the sash 13, such effort being transmitted to the sash through the bumper 44 and bracket 40. T0 vary the counterbalancing effort exerted on the sash 13, the strip 31--32 may be moved downwardly relative to the sash until the ears 43 clear the socket 42, whereupon the strip 31-32 can be rotated to vary the stress in the spring 34. For this purpose, the

lower end of the twisted strip may be provided with a slot 46 adapted to receive a hook-like tool insertable into the side jamb between the sash-guide 19 and ange 17 below the upper sash i3. With the hook of the tool engaged in the slot 46, the strip 31-32 can be drawn downwardly and the strip rotated to vary the stress in the spring 34. When the desired adjustment has been effected, the Strip may be permitted to return upwardly under the inuence of effort applied to it through the rotatable member 33 and spring 34 until the ears 43 resume their normal position within the socket 42. Because such socket is square, adjustment of the strip 31- 32 in increments of 90 is possible.

The balancing device for the lower sash 14 is similar to that employed in association with the upper sash and described above. Its barrel (not shown) lies in and is secured to the side jamb coplanar with the lower sash 14, and the lower end 32 of its twisted strip 31 is attached to the lower sash through the bracket 40' which has the square socket 42 receiving the ears 43 on the bumper 44.

I claim as my invention:

1. An attaching device for use in a window structure having a frame, a sash vertically slidable in said frame, and a sash-balancing device, said sash-balancing device comprising a vertical barrel secured to the window frame, a twisted strip slidable within said barrel, a member slidably connected to said twisted strip and rotated by movement thereof relative to the barrel, and a spring urging rotation of said member in a direction such as to apply an upward eiort to said strip; said device comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to said sash and having a square socket through which said twisted strip extends, and a filler block secured to said strip and having a square shank slidably received in said socket and withdrawable therefrom by downward movement of said strip, said Eller block also having an abutment engageable with said bracket to transmit upward effort from the strip to the bracket, said strip being of such transverse dimensions as to be rotatable within the socket when said filler block is withdrawn downwardly therefrom.

2. The invention set forth in claim l with the addition that said filler block has, below said socket, a head which projects outwardly transversely of the strip and beyond the socket to prevent contact thereof with the sides of said frame.

3. An attaching device for use in a window structure having a frame, a sash vertically slidable in said frame, and"a sash-balancing device, said sash-balancing device comprising a vertical barrel secured to the window frame, a twisted strip slidable within said barrel, a member slidably connected to said twisted strip and rotated by movement thereof relative to the barrel, and a spring urging rotation of said member in a direction such as to apply an upward effort to said strip; said device comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to said sash and having a socket through which said twisted strip extends, said bracket being formed of a sheet-metal strip having one end secured to the sash and the other end bent into a polygonal shape to form said socket, and a filler block secured to said twisted strip and having a polygonal shank complementary to said socket, said shank being slidably received in the socket and withdrawable therefrom by downward movement of said strip, said filler block also having an abutment engageable with said bracket to transmit upward effort from the strip to the bracket, said strip being of such transverse dimensions as to be rotatable within the socket when said ller block is withdrawn downwardly therefrom.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 with the addition that said ller block has, below said socket, a head which projects outwardly transversely of the strip and beyond the socket to prevent contact thereof with the sides of said frame.

5. An attaching device for use in a window structure having a frame, a sash vertically slidable in said frame, and a sash-balancing device, said sash-balancing device comprising a vertical barrel secured to the window frame, a twisted strip slidable within said barrel, a member slidably connected to said twisted strip and rotated by movement thereof relative to the barrel, and a spring urging rotation of said member in a direction such as to apply an upward effort to said strip; said device comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to said sash and having an opening in which said strip is slidably received, said strip and bracket being provided with interengageable provisions operative when engaged to prevent rotation of the strip and upward movement of the strip relative to the bracket but disengageable by downward movement of the strip relative to the bracket, said strip having crosssectional dimensions such that it is rotatable within said bracket-opening when drawn downwardly to disengage said provisions from the bracket, and a bumper element mounted on said strip below said bracket and projecting outwardly transversely of the strip and beyond adjacent portions of the bracket to prevent contact thereof with said frame.

Peremi July 29, 1952 Larson et al Dec. 18, 1956 

